Garden Tour of a Sustainable Native Plant Oasis Bursting with Fall Color

This small suburban space stuns with a four-season display and eco-friendly hardscape that benefits pollinators and wildlife. Take a behind-the-scenes tour of this stunning private landscape.

When Jeff Lorenz and Kayla Fell purchasedthis propertyin the Philadelphia suburbs , they bed they had their work cut out for them . A front and back grounds of mostly lawn was overflow with invasive plant , and invasives like English ivy ( Hederahelix ) were everywhere . Even bad , major implosion therapy would occur duringincreasingly frequent storms . This property needed a major renovation . It was clip to put their knowledge of sustainable gardening to make for .

read more : Native and Keystone Plant Resources for Your Region and Zone

They incorporated native plants that could defy the clime and that would benefit wildlife . Once the lawn and invasives were removed , they were replace with a palette of 100 % aboriginal plant , often ones from the Southeast due to the ongoing warming of the environment . These plants are tough and can handle hot Philadelphia summers with minimum maintenance . They have four - season appeal , and the planting layer themselves are thick and layered , mimicking born space and taking up much of yard .

Environmentally friendly hardscaping constituent were installed to manage stormwater and create a more natural esthetic . The garden used to be make full with a concrete terrace and concrete pathways , the latter of which awkwardly perish up an incline and looked like a ramp . These were remove . A permeable drive was installed to plow with stormwater issues , with a Gallic drain put under an abutting bluestone pathway . This bluestone made for a much more natural paseo to the front doorway and backyard . bowlder were then installed for seating around the deck and to create a more natural feeling . Finally , the house was resided to front more naturalistic .

A no - mow lawn was planted that is easy to care for and more ecologically sound . The live turf was replaced in part by the deep planting beds and also with native lawn option . Not only does this eco - favorable lawn not necessitate to be cut down , but it creates native habitat and is better at engage supererogatory water than a traditional lawn .

Learn more about this garden :

How to Create Functional Outdoor Family Spaces in an Eco - favorable Landscape

Planting Plan for an Eco - Friendly Garden

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Diana Koehm is the content editor .

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Garden Tour of a Sustainable Native Plant Oasis Bursting with Fall Color